Historical Blaj Bible Reprinted

On Anniversary of Pope´s Trip to Romania

May 29, 2001
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VATICAN CITY, MAY 29, 2001 (Zenit.org).- A new edition of the historical Blaj Bible was presented today, part of an effort to foster reconciliation between the Catholic and Romanian Orthodox Churches.

The Blaj translation was made in 1795 with Cyrillic characters by Samuil Micu, a monk who belonged to the Romanian Church united to Rome. Catholics and Orthodox used it for a long time.

Cardinal Ignace Moussa I Daoud, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, presented the Bible at the Vatican Press Office.

"Let´s hope that the Blaj Bible, reprinted with so much care, will help the dialogue with the Orthodox Church, which has its roots in the same living source of the Word of God and the Eastern Tradition," the cardinal said.

The new Blaj Bible was published on the third anniversary of John Paul II´s visit to Romania, when he became the first Bishop of Rome to set foot on Orthodox soil.